Subaru Impreza WRX Special

As far back as 1993, Subaru has competed in the World Rally Championship and a generation of car fans have lived and breathed hot Imprezas, but now the WRC car is no more.

Perhaps then this is the best time to savour the current Impreza, especially as this recently launched WRX-S version benefits from some choice enhancements.

The shape should be familiar to all by now: The surprise that greeted the switch to hatchback format from saloon has long disappeared, and instead been replaced by an acceptance that the Impreza is distinctive, if not loved by all.

As you step inside, the chunky three-spoke steering wheel and Momo gearknob are the kind of rally-esque adornments you expect, and once slotted in the supportive seats, the Impreza has you in its grasp.

There's more to the WRX-S than visuals, though. The rally car builders over at Prodrive got their laptops out and had a prolonged fiddle with the Impreza's electronic brain, and in the process, released an extra 25bhp and, more importantly, 69Nm of torque. The performance is surprisingly close to the STi, reflected in the fact that it sprints to 100kph in only 5.5 seconds — just 0.6 of a second slower than the STi.

That performance is easy to tap in to, always there and ready to power you forwards with vigour. Get a few thousand revs on the 2.5-litre boxer unit and it really starts to fly, powering the car beyond 200kph in quick succession. Although the gearbox lacks a sixth gear, it slots keenly between ratios and strings together the mighty efforts of the engine. It's the kind of performance that makes the WRX-S such a delight to use on a back-road drive.

The WRX-S does without some of the add-ons on the truly ballistic STi version, but unless you feel that more is definitely more, get behind the wheel of the WRX-S first: the S definitely stands for Special.